Construction kit

ABSTRACT

Construction kit with two- and/or three-dimensional construction elements ( 1, 9 ) with magnetic elements ( 4 ) in the corners and/or sides and ferromagnetic spheres ( 11 ), which can be placed between the magnetic elements ( 4 ) of adjacent construction elements ( 1, 9 ) to connect the construction elements ( 1, 9 ) together using a magnetic bond so that they can be detached.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a U.S. National Stage Application of PublishedInternational Application WO 03/063994 A1, filed Nov. 26, 2002, whichclaims priority from German Application No. 2002 02 183.1, filed Feb. 1,2002, the entire contents of each of which being incorporated herein byreference

The invention refers to a construction kit which consists ofconstruction elements with magnetic elements and ferromagnetic spheres.

Construction kits of the type mentioned initially are intendedparticularly for use as children's toys, educational toys, for producingdecorative objects or for applications in technology, for example, forproducing architectural models.

A construction kit is already known which contains construction elementsin the form of plastic rods with two permanent magnets in the ends andferromagnetic spheres, which can be placed between the end side magnetsof two construction elements to join these with a magnetic bond whichcan be detached. Two- and three-dimensional, network-like structures ofvarious different designs can be formed with these constructionelements.

The structures made of bar-shaped and spherical components arerelatively unstable. Therefore, relatively strong permanent magnets areused and a small pin made of iron or ferromagnetic material is insertedin each plastic rod between the two magnets to increase the magneticbonding forces.

A further disadvantage of the known construction kit is that it can onlybe used to make network-type or “open structures”.

A construction kit of the type described above is the subject of WO99/60583 A1.

DE 39 10 304 A1 discloses a construction kit, in which the constructionelements have ferromagnetic contact surfaces and the connections arepermanent magnets or contain these (claim 1). According to claim 3, theconstruction elements may particularly be panels and the connectionsparticularly spheres. Claim 4 refers, amongst other things, to thecontact surfaces of the construction elements, which are concave and areadapted to the convex surfaces of the connections (e.g. spheres). Thestructure of the spheres is illustrated in FIG. 2 and described incolumn 4, line 60 to column 5, line 57. These spheres have a verycomplex structure and are very expensive to manufacture. In use, theyhave the disadvantage that the construction elements can only aligned atcertain angles to the spherical connections, as otherwise an adequatemagnetic bond cannot be brought about.

DE 33 23 489 A1 discloses a toy and means of instruction based onspherical elements, in which the spheres contain magnetic elements. Thespheres serve to clamp and hold in place strip-type elements via themagnetic forces which are acting between spheres in different layers.This is illustrated in FIG. 3. The strips are made of “Perspex” and donot contain any ferromagnetic elements.

On the basis of the above, the object of the invention is to create aconstruction kit, which is not restricted to the creation ofnetwork-like structures and in which the structures are stabilisedsufficiently well without special measures to increase the magneticbonding forces.

The problem is solved by a construction kit with the characteristicscontained in claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the construction kitare stated in the sub-claims.

The construction kit according to the invention has two- orthree-dimensional construction elements with magnetic elements in thecorners and/or the sides and ferromagnetic spheres, which can beinserted between the magnetic elements of adjacent constructioncomponents to connect the construction elements together by magneticbonding in such a way that they can be detached.

Since the construction kit includes two- and/or three-dimensionalconstruction elements, the stability of the structures created with theaid of these construction elements and with ferromagnetic spheres issignificantly better in comparison with the known construction kit withrod-type construction elements. This makes it possible only to userelatively weak magnets and to avoid additional ferromagnetic componentswithin the construction elements. The construction of particularlylarge, stable structures is also supported. In addition, the two- orthree-dimensional construction elements have the advantage that theymake it possible to assemble more or less closed structures whichincreases the incentive to play game and permits many interestingapplications. Moreover, the use of less strong magnetic forces avoidsdisruptive magnetic fields, which, for example, attract small parts orcan impair clocks or other components containing precision mechanisms.

The two-dimensional components extend substantially in one plane, havinghowever, a certain transverse expansion in respect of the plane. Thethree-dimensional construction elements extend significantly in allspatial directions. In contrast to this, the rod-type constructionelements of the prior art only extend significantly along one axis andonly have a low level of expansion in the transverse direction.

In two-dimensional construction elements, the magnetic elements arepreferably aligned substantially with the line bisecting the angle ofthe corners of the two large parallel side surfaces of the panel-typeconstruction elements. Here, the magnetic elements are preferablyarranged at the corners parallel to the two large side surfaces,preferably approximately in the middle between the two.

In three-dimensional construction elements, the magnetic elements arepreferably aligned substantially with all the lines bisecting the angleswhich delineate these three-dimensional corners. This means, forexample, in a cube, that the magnetic elements are aligned substantiallywith diagonals which run from the centre of the cube to its corners.

The two-dimensional construction elements can, for example, be archedtwo-dimensional components. The two-dimensional or three-dimensionalconstruction elements may be produced in a wide range of shapes. Theycan be closed construction elements or open construction elements, forexample, frame-type construction elements which run in one plane, ordelineate a three-dimensional shape.

According to a preferred embodiment, the construction elements arepanel-shaped. A very large number of interesting and particularly stablestructures can be realised with the panel-type construction elements.

The magnetic elements are preferably arranged in corners of theconstruction elements. In addition to, or instead of this, they can bearranged in the sides of the construction elements, particularly in thenarrow sides of the two-dimensional construction elements.

The panel-type construction elements can be construction elements withany desired number of corners. The panel-type construction elements canalso have curved sides. According to a further embodiment, theconstruction kit includes triangular and/or rectangular and/or hexagonaland/or octagonal and/or round and/or half-round panel-type constructionelements.

According to a further embodiment, the construction kit includestriangles with equal and/or unequal sides and/or square and/or doublesquare and or multiple square panel-type construction elements.

According to one embodiment, the construction kit includes polyhedral(e.g. cube-shaped, cuboid, prism-shaped, pyramidal, truncatedpyramid-shaped) and/or spherical and/or spherical segment-shaped and/orcylindrical and or cylindrical segment-shaped and/or barrel-shapedand/or barrel segment-shaped and/or ring-shaped and/or arc-shapedthree-dimensional construction elements.

According to one embodiment, the construction kit includes constructionelements which have a bevel on their edges. This makes it easier to butta number of construction elements together at the edges.

According to one embodiment, the construction kit includes constructionelements, the walls of which are thinner between their edges than on theedges.

According to one embodiment, the construction kit includes constructionelements, which have cut-outs on the corners and/or sides to take asection of a sphere. This makes it possible to bring the constructionelements very close together or to house the spheres mainly in thecorners of the construction elements.

According to a further embodiment, the cut-outs are formed by bevels onthe corners of the construction element and/or substantially sphericalsegment-shaped or trough-shaped recesses on the corners and/or the sidesof the construction elements.

According to one embodiment, the magnetic elements with their axes arealigned substantially with a line bisecting the corners. This aligns themagnetic retaining forces advantageously with the construction elementsor the spheres. According to one embodiment of the construction elementswith magnetic elements in the sides, the magnetic elements are alignedfor this purpose with their axes substantially perpendicular to thesides and/or the cut-outs in the sides.

According to a further embodiment the magnetic elements are cylindrical.

According to a preferred embodiment, the magnetic elements are permanentmagnets. However, it is also possible as a matter of principle for themagnetic elements to take the form of electromagnets.

The construction kit particularly includes construction elements of arigid design. According to one embodiment, the construction kit includesat least one construction element which can be changed in shape. Thisconstruction element can be shaped manually by the user or with a tool.It can particularly involve a construction element which can be shapedplastically or elastically. In this way the user can constructstructures which leave the preset grid of the construction elements. Hecan also bring stress states into his structures by means of elasticallydeformable construction elements.

According to one embodiment, the construction kit includes at least oneconstruction element with a light source. The user can achieveinteresting lighting effects with this. The construction element is alsopreferably provided with magnetic elements in the way already describedand can be integrated into structures by means of ferromagnetic spheres.However, it may also demonstrate other assembly techniques, for example,suction cup fastenings.

According to a preferred embodiment, an electrical light source isinvolved. According to a further embodiment, the construction kitincludes an electrical voltage source, e.g. a battery, an accumulator ora power pack. The voltage source can be used to supply the electriclight source and/or electromagnetic elements. It can, for example, beintegrated in a further construction element or in the constructionelement with the light source, for example, if using a button cellbattery. However, it can also be integrated into the base plate or intoa separate construction element.

According to a further embodiment, the construction elements are atleast partially made of plastic and/or metal and/or wood. The magneticelements and/or light sources or a holder for the latter and/or thevoltage source may particularly be cast in and/or injection-mouldedand/or inserted into the construction elements.

The construction elements are preferably made of injection-mouldedplastic.

According to one embodiment, the construction kit includes at least onecube with differently marked faces. The faces of a cube can all bemarked differently or only some of them may be different. Symbols and/ordesignations of construction elements and/or spheres and/or special gameinstructions are preferably arranged on the faces. For example, one ormore players can use the cube to throw dice for construction elements orspheres which they may then use for a design. It can then be determinedin a sort of competition who has built the highest, most daring or mostbeautiful design with the construction elements won. A designation, towhich a special game instruction is allocated can, for example, be a“joker”. Throwing the joker can, for example, permit a player to selectany construction element he wants. Another “designation” can, forexample, be a face with nothing on it at all. If a player throws a blankof this kind, he may not take a construction element. A further feasibledesignation is a number, which designates the number of components theplayer may take.

According to one embodiment, the construction kit includes black and/orwhite and/or coloured construction elements and/or ferromagneticspheres. The construction kit can particularly include constructionelements and/or spheres in different colours or in black or in white.

Furthermore, an advantageous embodiment provides for the constructionkit including a base plate which has recesses and/or other surfacestructures and/or other magnetic elements in which the spheres and/orconstruction elements can be inserted and/or with which spheres and/orconstruction elements can be connected by magnetic bonding so that theycan be detached. Building up from the base plate, structures can beerected advantageously starting from the grid which is specified by thebase plate. The base plate is a useful aid to the construction of stablestructures, especially if these reach large dimensions.

It is also possible to provide a base plate with recesses and/or othersurface structures and/or further magnetic elements on both sides, forexample in different grids, to permit different structures to beconstructed. A double-sided structure of this type can also be used tocover structures and then erect new structures on top of it.

According to one embodiment, the recesses and/or other surfacestructures reveal a spherical and/or an elongated shape. This permitsthe base plate to be used for the erection of construction elementswhich have different edge lengths, for example, for square plates andtriangles, equilateral or non-equilateral triangles.

According to one embodiment, the base plate is produced in black and/orwhite and/or coloured. According to one embodiment, the base plate ismade of plastic. Moreover, the further magnetic elements of the baseplates are preferably permanent magnets. Especially in a base plate, theother magnetic elements can also be electromagnets in order to give theentire structure a special stability via particularly strong magneticforces.

According to one embodiment, the construction kit includes a containerwith a lower part with compartments containing construction elements andspheres and an upper part which can be removed from the lower part toform the base plate. The upper part therefore has a double function asthe base for playing and a cover for the container for storing andtransporting the construction elements and spheres.

According to one embodiment, the construction kit includes a containerwith a lower part and a hinged lid, each made of plastic and at leastone insert with compartments containing construction elements andspheres. According to one embodiment, the insert also consists ofplastic. According to one embodiment, the container and/or the insertconsists of a transparent plastic. According to one embodiment, thehinged lid is attached to the lower part via a film hinge. According toone embodiment, the container and/or the insert is folded from a flatplastic material and connected at the corners by adhesive, welding oranother type of connection. According to one embodiment, theconstruction kit contains a base plate inserted in it.

The invention is described in greater detail below using the attacheddrawings of examples of embodiments. The drawings show:

FIGS. 1 a and b A top view (FIG. 1 a) and a side view (FIG. 1 b) of asquare panel-type construction element;

FIGS. 2 a and b A top view (FIG. 2 a) and a side view (FIG. 2 b) of adouble square two-dimensional construction element;

FIGS. 3 a to c A top view (FIG. 3 a), a view from the left side (FIG. 3b) and a view from the right side (FIG. 3 c) of a triangulartwo-dimensional construction element;

FIGS. 4 a to c A front view (FIG. 4 a), side view (FIG. 4 b) and afurther side view (FIG. 4 c) of a prism structure formed withconstruction elements according to FIGS. 1 and 3 plus ferromagneticspheres;

FIG. 5 Top view of a pyramidal structure, formed from constructionelements according to FIG. 3 and ferromagnetic spheres;

FIGS. 6 a to c A top view (FIG. 6 a), a side view (FIG. 6 b) and thesame side view with a sphere inserted (FIG. 6 c) of a base plate withrecesses to hold spheres,

FIGS. 7 a to c A top view (FIG. 7 a) of the upper part of a containerfor construction elements and spheres, a top view of the lower part(FIG. 7 b) and a vertical section (FIG. 7 c);

FIG. 8A perspective side view of a dice;

FIG. 9 Table with dice symbols and rules of the game.

In the explanation of a number of different examples of embodimentsbelow, corresponding characteristics are provided with the samereference numbers.

According to FIG. 1, a square, panel-type construction element 1 has aplate 2, which has a small bevel 3 at an angle of 45° to the edges ineach of the four corners.

Furthermore, there is a magnetic element 4 inserted in each corner inthe form of a small cylindrical permanent magnet. The axes of themagnetic elements 4 are aligned precisely with the line bisecting theedges of the panel 2 adjacent to the corners or aligned with the centreof the panel 2.

Furthermore, the panel 2 has a bevel 5 running around the edges on bothsides.

In the example, the panel 2 has side lengths of approximately 40 mm anda wall thickness of approximately 5 mm. Moreover, in the example,magnets 4 are inserted with a diameter of approximately 4 mm and alength of approximately 5 mm.

FIG. 2 a shows a double square panel-type construction element 6, whichproduces a panel 7 with double the side length of panel 1 (approximately80 mm). The panel 7 has bevels 3 on the corners. Magnets 4 are againintegrated there in the panels 7. A bevel 5 runs around the edge on bothsides on the outside.

Furthermore, the panel-type construction element 6 has trough-shapedrecesses 8 in the centre of the two long edges. Magnetic elements 4 areagain arranged in the bottom of these recesses 8 in the panel.

The recesses 8 are dimensioned such that a region of spheres with adiameter of 12.7 mm (½ inch) can be held in them.

The recesses 8 have a width of approximately 13 mm and a depth ofapproximately 3.5 mm in the example.

According to FIG. 3, a triangular panel-type construction element 9comprises a panel 10 in the form of an equilateral triangle, which hasbevels 3 at the edges which run perpendicular to the line bisecting theangle between the sides adjacent to the corners.

In the panel 10, there are magnetic elements 4, which in turn lie underthe bevels 3, with a cylindrical shape, the axes of which are alignedwith the line bisecting the angle at the corners.

The side length of the panel 10, i.e. the distance from a hypotheticalcorner to the other measured distance corresponds to the side lengths ofthe panel 2, i.e. amounts to approximately 40 mm. The panel 10 also hasa wall thickness of approximately 5 mm.

According to FIGS. 4 and 5 the construction elements 1 and 9, describedabove, are used with ferromagnetic spheres 11, to produce structures.During this, the ferromagnetic spheres 11 are each placed over themagnetic elements 4, so that the distance between the centres of thespheres is approximately 45 mm.

According to FIGS. 4 a to c a prism-shaped structure is realised fromthree square panel-type construction elements 1, two triangularpanel-type construction elements 9 and six ferromagnetic spheres 11. Thespheres have been omitted in some cases in the views in order to give aclear view of the bevels 3 and the magnetic elements 4. It can clearlybe seen that a section of the spheres 11 is placed in the region of thebevels 3 and that as a result of this the construction elements 1, 9 canbe butted tightly against each other.

FIG. 5 shows a pyramidal or tetrahedral structure, formed from fourtriangular panel-type construction elements 9 and four ferromagneticspheres 11.

Of course, the construction elements 1, 9, 6 and any other constructionelements included in this invention can be combined together to formstructures of practically any desired size and complexity. Dimensionsdifferent from those stated are also possible.

According to FIG. 6, a base plate 12, comprising a panel-type body 13,which has a large number of recesses 14 on at least one side, serves asan aid to the erection of structures. In the example, cone-shapedrecesses have been selected, but they can also take other shapes. Therecesses 14 have the advantage that spheres 11 inserted in them are onlyheld by a line around the circumference so that although they are fixedprecisely, they can be removed again with the application of littleforce.

In the example, the base plate is approximately square and has a sidelength of approximately 500 mm. The distance between the recesses 14corresponds to the distance between the centres of the spheres if theyare allocated to the magnets 4 on construction elements 1, 6, 9 i.e.approximately 45 mm.

The construction elements 1, 6, 9 and/or the base plate 12 can bemanufactured particularly from plastic, especially usinginjection-moulding. The magnetic elements 4 can be surrounded by theplastic material in the injection-moulding process.

The spheres 11 are made of a ferrous material, which is attracted by amagnet. It is preferable for a non-rusting ferrous material to be used.The spheres 11 can also be coated.

According to FIG. 7, a container 15 includes a lower part 16 with a basepart 17 and a holder part 18, in which various compartments 19 areformed. The compartments 19 serve as containers for the constructionelements and spheres. Their size is adapted to the respectiveconstruction elements and spheres they are to hold.

The holder part 18 has an edge 20 around its circumference whichdelineates a mounting.

An upper part 21 is inserted in the mounting. This includes a base plate12′, which apart from circular recesses 14′ also includes a longitudinalrecess 14″, the ends of which are rounded. The width of the longitudinalrecesses 14″ corresponds to the diameter of the circular recesses 14′and their length corresponds to three times the diameter of the circularrecesses 14′.

The recesses 14′ 14″ are holes which pass through the base plate 14′.The upper part 21 includes a thin cover plate 22, which is arrangedunder the base plate 12′ and covers the holes.

The container 15 can be made entirely or partially of plastic and/orwood and/or metal (e.g. aluminium) or another suitable material.

According to FIG. 8, a cube 23 which forms part of the construction kit,has six faces 24 with different symbols.

The allocation of the symbols to the faces is shown in the table in FIG.9. The rules of the game are also clear from this, which must beobserved by a player when throwing the a certain symbol using the cubeas a dice:

If the first face is thrown, the player may take one square constructionelement and one sphere.

If the second face is thrown, he has a rectangular construction elementand a sphere.

If the third face is thrown, the player is entitled to take a triangularconstruction element and a sphere from the stock available.

With fourth face he receives a trapezoidal construction element and asphere.

If the player throws the fifth face with the dice, he gets two spheres.

If he throws the sixth face he can choose between any constructionelement he would like or up to four spheres.

Any number of desired variations are possible.

Using one or more dice 22, it is possible, for example, to undertakecompetitions, organised between different players. Each player has acertain number of dice and he must build a structure with the stock ofconstruction elements and spheres he has gained by throwing the dice.The results are compared on the basis of one or more specific criteria(e.g. height of the structure), thus selecting a winner.

1. A construction kit comprising: a two-dimensional construction elementhaving a polygonal shape, the construction element comprising: a firstface; a second face opposite the first face; a perimeter edge disposedbetween the first face and the second face around the polygonal shape ofthe construction element, the first face and the second face having abeveled corner when viewed in a direction facing the first face; and amagnet disposed proximate to the beveled corner, the magnet having anouter surface portion that is cylindrical about a longitudinal axis andat least one planar face that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis,the longitudinal axis of the magnet bisecting the beveled corner whenviewed in a direction facing the first face.
 2. The construction elementof claim 1, the first face, the second face, and the longitudinal axisof the magnet being substantially parallel.
 3. The construction elementof claim 1, wherein the beveled corner defines a planar portion of theperimeter edge and the magnet is recessed from the beveled corner intothe construction element such that only the planar face of the magnet isexposed and the planar face is recessed from the plane of the beveledcorner.
 4. The construction element of claim 3, the construction elementbeing made from nonmagnetic material, the magnet being encased in thenonmagnetic material, the nonmagnetic material defining a recess abovethe exposed planar face, and the recess shaped to contact a sphere alonga circumferential line.
 5. The construction element of claim 4, therecess being conical.
 6. The construction element of claim 1, whereineach corner of the polygonal shape is beveled and a magnet is providedin each of the beveled corners.
 7. The construction element of claim 1,further comprising a first bevel between the first face and theperimeter edge and a second bevel between the second face and theperimeter edge.
 8. The construction element of claim 1, the first faceand the second face having a second beveled corner and a third beveledcorner when viewed in a direction facing the first face, theconstruction element further comprising: a second magnet disposedproximate to the second beveled corner, the second magnet having anouter surface portion that is cylindrical about a longitudinal axis andat least one planar face that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis,the longitudinal axis of the second magnet bisecting the second beveledcorner when viewed in a direction facing the first face; and a thirdmagnet disposed proximate to the third beveled corner, the third magnethaving an outer surface portion that is cylindrical about a longitudinalaxis and at least one planar face that is perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis, the longitudinal axis of the third magnet bisectingthe third beveled corner when viewed in a direction facing the firstface.
 9. The construction element of claim 1, the magnet beingcylindrical.
 10. A two- to three-dimensional construction element, theconstruction element comprising: a first face; a second face oppositethe first face, the first face and the second face having a beveledcorner when viewed in a direction facing the first face; a perimeterface disposed between the first face and the second face around theconstruction element, the construction element having a first bevelbetween the first face and the perimeter face and a second bevel betweenthe second face and the perimeter race; and a magnet disposed proximateto the beveled corner.
 11. The construction element of claim 10, thefirst face and the second face being substantially parallel, and theperimeter face being substantially perpendicular to the first face andthe second face.
 12. The construction element of claim 10, the axis ofthe magnet bisecting the beveled corner when viewed in a directionfacing the first face.
 13. The construction element of claim 12, theconstruction element comprising a polygonal two-dimensional shape, andthe first face, the second face, and the axis of the magnet beingsubstantially parallel.
 14. The construction element of claim 13, theconstruction element being made from nonmagnetic material, each cornerof the polygonal shape being beveled, and a magnet recessed into eachbeveled corner such that only a planar face of the magnet is exposed.15. The construction element of claim 14, wherein the magnet is recessedinto and below the surface of the beveled corner.
 16. A construction kitcomprising: a construction element having: a body, the body having anouter surface formed of a nonmagnetic material, and a magnet recessedinto the body, the magnet having an outer surface portion that iscylindrical about a longitudinal axis and at least one planar face thatis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the magnet being recessedinto the body such that only the planar face of the magnet is exposedand the planar face is recessed into and below the outer surface of thebody such that the nonmagnetic material of the body defines a recessabove the planar surface, and the recess being shaped to contact asphere along a circumferential line; and a ferromagnetic ball held bythe magnet against the recess.
 17. The construction kit of claim 16, thebody having a first face and a second face opposite the first face, thefirst face and the second face having the beveled corner when viewed ina direction facing the first face, the longitudinal axis of the magnetbisecting the beveled corner when viewed in a direction facing the firstface.
 18. The construction kit of claim 17, wherein the body comprises abase plate having a plurality of cone-shaped recesses located on atleast one side thereof, and wherein a magnet is disposed in each of therecesses.
 19. The construction kit of claim 16, the ferromagnetic ballby itself having a spherical outer surface and substantially uniformmagnetic properties across the outer surface.
 20. The construction kitof claim 16, the ferromagnetic ball being spaced apart from the magnetwhen held against the recess.